The Tokyo firm says it will start selling Sorplas recycled polycarbonate to outside customers in October 2014. It foresees the resin will appeal to a range of manufacturers inside and outside Japan.

Sony recycles PC from discarded optical discs and light-diffusing films used in LCD televisions. The plastic is flame retarded with a proprietary, sulfur-based chemical to give a durable, heat-resistance material that can contain up to 99 percent recycled content.

Sony began in-house use of Sorplas in 2011 in some of its LCD televisions and has since incorporated it into a variety of Sony products. It soon will offer Sorplas to outside companies “with the objective of contributing to society by promoting the reuse of resources and reducing environmental impact.”

Sony claims its flame retardant is effective at concentrations of less than 1 percent, a fraction of the usual flame retardant dose of 15 percent. This low flame-retardant loading allows Sorplas to retain the desirable properties of PC resin without adding high amounts of virgin PC to boost the recycled resin’s properties.

Sony says it will offer Sorplas at approximately the same price as conventional flame-retarded PC plastic. Three initial grades address high moldability, high impact and thin molding with high flame retardance.